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I am a craftswoman & artist; a mother to the animals that look to me, to the trees & gardens that I’ve planted, and to the land that I am pioneering.

I was born in France and grew up outside of Geneva, in the vastness of London and in the hills of Provence & the Mediterranean area.

I was trained as an artist through mentoring & college, when in 1985 I received a BA in Fine Arts- both in studio art and art history. I was a paper maker, photographer, printer & weaver. Professionally, I represented photographers & artists in the commercial gallery system, notably Vision Gallery in San Francisco.

Today, I advocate for my own creative work… in a journey called Brizel Handcrafts. I continue to be very eclectic and work with a variety of naturally eco-friendly materials and supplies.

I craft throughout the wheel of the year- making certain products at specific times of the solar year or of the lunar cycle. Since I have chosen to live very close to the land... up in the mountains where the skies are wide & open... all Her rhythms, deep consciousness and passion reverberate in what I create.

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Brizel Handcrafts can be found on ETSY.

At Brizel Handcrafts you will find a variety of colorful unique special occasion items all handmade from eco-friendly materials... Brigid Crosses made from homegrown apple wood; Silk Tapestries in the form of Art Boxes, plush Hearts; Hip Pouches, Table Pouches, Table Rugs - all made from banana silk and reclaimed silk sari yarns. You will also find Brizel's Hip Button Belts crocheted from satin cord & embellished with vintage collectible buttons; as well as necklaces and bracelets created with Tagua Nut wood and natural clay ceramic beads.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Ode to Spider

Some years ago, I heard this incredibly evocative song, sung by Frances Black, called Weave & Mend and written by Mary Trup (currently song 2 on this blog). It is a song that instantly became part of my soul... and I embraced it intensely as a prayer for personal transformation during the several ceremonial sweats I participated in at that time of my life...

Old woman is watching, watching over you

In the darkness of the storm, she is watching

She is weaving, mending, gathering the colours

She is watching over you

So weave and mend

weave and mend

Gather the fragments safe

And win the sacred circle sisters

Weave and mend, weave and mend,

Oh women, weave and mend

Old woman is weaving, gathering the threads

Her bones become the loom she is weaving,

She is watching, weaving, gathering the colours

She is watching over you

So weave and mend

weave and mend

Gather the fragments safe

And win the sacred circle sisters

Weave and mend, weave and mend,

Oh women, weave and mend

For years I’ve been watching, waiting for old woman

Feeling lost and so alone, I’ve been watching.

Now I find her weaving, gathering the colours

Now I find her in myself

So weave and mend

weave and mend

Gather the fragments safe

And win the sacred circle sisters

Weave and mend, weave and mend,

Oh women, weave and mend

***

Medicine Cards by Sams & Carson defines the animal totem of the North as one that "gives wise counsel and reminds you when to speak and when to listen". Animal of the North "also reminds you to be grateful for every blessing every day".

I give honor to Spider for she is my teacher of the North... through the fruition of my weaving and silk tapestry works, Spider teaches me about life's mysteries: "Know thyself and thou shalt know the Universe".

Creativity is my personal vehicle for processing life lessons... everyday I co-create my fate with my crochet needle and I get to have a glimpse of the expansiveness of great spirit and feel part of the huge spiraling cosmos. When I put my needle down, Spider inspires the art of journaling & writing as a tool for insightful teaching/learning.

In the big scheme of things... Grandmother Spider is the great balancer through the exploration of polarities... flow & ebb, rise & fall, waxing & waning, death & rebirth, male & female, physical & spiritual, past & future... She is in the beginning & in the end... at the center of it all !

4 comments:

Beautiful pieces of art! I think my favorite is that wolf spider photo. Clearly Spider has a lot of influence in your life; I'm thinking especially of your gorgeous woven silk tapestry work - animal teachers are amazing, and so are you dear friend!

Love your comments concerning Mother Spider as the great balancer! We all need a little direction on balncing our lives at one time or another.Thanks so much for including my photo as one of your favorite spider pieces.

WELCOME... to my blog !

Home to Brizel Handcrafts, Brizel Supplies & Brizel 4 The Animals... also to Twilight and anything else to do with me: Nicole, Hazel, & Brizel !

I've been blogging here for five years now... I love to share what's closest to my heart: often its about my handcrafts; my land: Twilight; my animal pack; animal shamanism; homeopathy for animals; animal advocacy; Team EFA: Etsy for Animals; my online businesses, buttons or crafting materials i'm in love with... And finally... my posts serve as an opportunity to express gratitude to those who support me.

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Brizel4TheAnimals is a fundraising shop donating 10% of its sales to animal charity.

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Brizel Supplies on Etsy... sells ALL KiNDS of fabulous sewing buttons from around the world which have either been unveiled from time bomb stashes or carefully uncarded from estate piles in order to create delicious ViNTAGE upcycled sets for your consideration AND there you will also find the ever so beautiful NEW Czech glass art buttons + some colorful plastic floral button embellishments.